Sire Du Berlais is set to face 11 rivals in his bid to retain the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle on Thursday.
The veteran rolled back the years to land last season’s renewal and the four horses that finished behind on that day – Dashel Drasher, Teahupoo, Flooring Porter and Home By The Lee – renew opposition.
The most interesting contenders could be the new boys in the staying hurdling division as Grand National hero Noble Yeats bids to build on his Cleeve Hurdle success while dual Cheltenham Festival winner Sir Gerhard is stepped up in trip.
Britain’s fresh contender is Crambo, who has had a break since beating Paisley Park for Grade 1 honours in the Long Walk Hurdle before Christmas.
Irish trio Asterion Forlonge, Buddy One and Janidil complete the field for Thursday’s 15:30.
The latest Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
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Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle verdict
Timeform: The veterans came out on top in last season’s renewal, but TEAHUPOO was a close third when only a 6-y-o and has improved again this year judging by the manner of his win in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on his return in December, so looks the one to beat. Fellow 7-y-o Crambo appeals as the main threat given the rate of his progress, though top-class chaser Noble Yeats won the Cleeve Hurdle on only his third start in this sphere so is a fascinating contender.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle 2024.
Asterion Forlonge
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: Mr P. W. Mullins Age: 10 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Very smart hurdler/chaser at his best. Better for return when respectable 11 lengths second of 6 to Irish Point in Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown (23.4f, heavy) 77 days ago. Sole Grade 1 win came as a novice 4 years ago so likely to come up short again.
**
Buddy One
Trainer: Paul John Gilligan Jockey: Jack G. Gilligan Age: 7 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Progressed again when winning C&D handicap in November but came in last of 5 to Teahupoo when stepped up to this level in Hatton’s Grace Hurdle (22/1) at Fairyhouse next time. Reportedly scoped wrong when pulled up in Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown since.
**
Champ
Trainer: Nicky Henderson Jockey: Non-Runner Age: 12 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Non-Runner
Crambo
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien Jockey: Jonathan Burke Age: 7 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Has progressed through the ranks over hurdles and had Dashel Drasher and Champ in behind when edging out Paisley Park in Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot (24.4f, good) 82 days ago. More needed again to beat the best of the Irish but that is entirely possible (unexposed at 3m).
****
Dashel Drasher
Trainer: Jeremy Scott Jockey: Rex Dingle Age: 11 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Tough and likeable sort who edged out the penalised Paisley Park to win Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury in December and creditable efforts in defeat since, 3 lengths fourth to Noble Yeats in Cleeve Hurdle over C&D last time. Most unlikely he’ll better last year’s superb second in this, however.
***
Flooring Porter
Trainer: Gavin Patrick Cromwell Jockey: Keith Donoghue Age: 9 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Front runner who won this race in 2021 and 2022. Couldn’t complete the hat-trick 12 months ago but still ran his best race of the season to finish fourth (3½ lengths behind Sire du Berlais). Not so good tried over fences this term so no surprise to see him have another crack at this.
****
Home By The Lee
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: J. J. Slevin Age: 9 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Winner of the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown last season before shaping better than the bare result when fifth in this race (beaten under 4 lengths despite a serious mistake at the sixth). However, doesn’t arrive in the same form for this year’s renewal, looking moody latest. Headgear refitted.
***
Janidil
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: Jody McGarvey Age: 10 Weight: 11st 10lbs
High-class chaser on his day (second in Ryanair in 2022). Decent second of 3 in Grade 2 at Clonmel on comeback but failed to build on that next time and this a tough ask on his belated return to hurdles (last seen in this sphere when fifth in Albert Bartlett 4 years ago).
*
Noble Yeats
Trainer: Emmet Mullins Jockey: Harry Cobden Age: 9 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Top-class chaser who won the 2022 Grand National. Having only his third career start over hurdles when narrowly beating the penalised Paisley Park in Cleeve Hurdle at this C&D (good to soft) 47 days ago. More needed here but has plenty of scope to improve given chase form. Interesting contender.
****
Paisley Park
Trainer: Emma Lavelle Jockey: Tom Bellamy Age: 12 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Veteran stayer but no signs of slowing down, going down only narrowly in Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury (beaten a head by Dashel Drasher), Ascot’s Long Walk Hurdle (beaten short head by Crambo) and Cleeve Hurdle over C&D (beaten a head by Noble Yeats) this term. Record in this reads 17337.
***
Sire Du Berlais
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: M. P. Walsh Age: 12 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Grand servant who is a 3-time winner at the Cheltenham Festival, including at big odds in this race 12 months ago (no fluke about it). Should be sharper for his belated comeback run at Navan and this is his time of year (has also won last 2 renewals of Liverpool Hurdle) but no 12-y-o has won this.
***
Sir Gerhard
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: P. Townend Age: 9 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Leading novice hurdler of 2021/22 campaign and a smart novice chaser last term. Closing in second when falling heavily 2 out in Grade 3 chase at Naas on return and showed no ill effects when landing odds back hurdling at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve. Unproven beyond 21f but not dismissed.
****
Teahupoo
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: J. W. Kennedy Age: 7 Weight: 11st 10lbs
High-class hurdler who was a close third in this last year when favourite. Better than ever when making it back-to-back wins in Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on return in December. Kept fresh for this (4-4 when returning from an absence of 3 months or longer) and huge run expected.
*****
Cheltenham Day 3 Tips
- Matt Chapman’s Cheltenham tips for Thursday at the Festival
- Cheltenham day three tips from Mick Fitzgerald for Thursday’s races
- Ruby Walsh’s Cheltenham tips for every race on Thursday
- Paddy Power’s epic Thursday cheat sheet of Cheltenham tips for day three
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